Pacific Northwest - From A to Z, or at least Bellevue to Woodinville

All right you Eastsiders--I want to go from I-90 Mercer Island/Bellevue to Woodinville (Molbak's in particular).

Any suggestions for--most scenic?

How about least traffic?

Perhaps shortest?

Least hilly?

Most hilly?

Least dangerous?

Most dangerous?

I'd be doing this on Saturday next.

Thanks for any suggestions!

East Hill

I assume you're coming from Seattle on the I-90 trail.

I'd basically go the I-90 trail to Factoria, then up the hill
to Bellevue Community College, north for a while on 145th PL/140th
to Main, east on Main to 164th. GO north on 164th to NE 30th and
go east to 172nd. Go north on 172nd and then left onto West
Lake Sammamish Parkway. Follow W. Lk Samm to Marymoor and get
on the Sammamish River Trail which will take you to Woodinville.

More detailed instructions:

1. The I-90 trail is pretty obvious from Mercer Island to Bellevue.
Once you hit Bellevue, keep following it east across Mercer Slough
to 118th Ave SE.
2. Turn right on 118th, go under I-90 and immediately look for the
trail going up the hill to Factoria.
3. Go up the trail to Factoria. YOu end up at an intersection behind
the theater across from a QFC (128th and se 36th).
4. Straight through the intersection going up SE 36th.
Use extreme caution at this intersection. SE36 is the only hill on
the route. I don't think it's too bad but YMMV. There's a good bike
lane/shoulder.
5. Turn left (north) onto 142nd PL SE. It's the first overpass over I90.
Go across I90 to the Bellevue Community College entrance.
6. Go through BCC on what Google maps calls Snoqualmie River Rd. It's
takes you through BCC. At the stop sign by the ball fields, turn left
and keep going. You'll end up at the intersection of SE24th and 145th PL.
7. Turn left (north) onto 145th PL. Go north on 145th PL. It becomes
140th. There's a good bike lane/shoulder.
8. At Main street (just past Sammamish High), turn right (east) onto
Main.
9. Follow Main and turn left (north) onto 164th.
(Alternate: turn left at 156th then right on NE4th then left onto 164th
to avoid a small bit of hill)
10. Follow 164th north for a while. It has a good shoulder.
11a. Turn right (east) on NE24th and go down the big hill to West Lake
Sammamish Parkway.
OR
11b. Keep going on 164th and turn right (east) onto NE30th. Follow NE30th
to 172ND and turn left (north). Follow 172ND to West Lake Sammamish Parkway.
12. Follow West Lake Sammamish Parkway to Marymoor Park where you can
meet up with the Sammamish River trail which will take you to Woodinville.

This route is either low traffic or on roads with decent shoulder or bike lane.

Note that I wouldn't follow this route going the other direction though.
I'd just go West Lake Sammamish Parkway to I-90. You really really don't
want to go West Lake Sammamish Parkway northbound south of NE24th.
Let me know if you want more detailed instructions.

No, no, no, no...

From I-90 make your way to downtown Bellevue. Continue north on Bellevue Way until you get to Lake Washington Blvd. in Kirkland. Follow Lake Washington Blvd until it comes to an end, make a right. Continue on 85th until you get to downtown Redmond. Take a right at Kentucky Fried Chicken and follow that road until you get to Leary Way. Take a right on Leary Way (but use the sidewalk because the entrance to the Sammamish trail is RIGHT THERE!) Head down the trail until you get to the park in Woodinville where there's bathrooms and a nice big grass field. Molbaks is about 1/2 mile west of there.

No, no, no, no...

From I-90 make your way to downtown Bellevue. Continue north on Bellevue Way until you get to Lake Washington Blvd. in Kirkland. Follow Lake Washington Blvd until it comes to an end, make a right. Continue on 85th until you get to downtown Redmond. Take a right at Kentucky Fried Chicken and follow that road until you get to Leary Way. Take a right on Leary Way (but use the sidewalk because the entrance to the Sammamish trail is RIGHT THERE!) Head down the trail until you get to the park in Woodinville where there's bathrooms and a nice big grass field. Molbaks is about 1/2 mile west of there.

You forgot to mention that this route falls in the "dangerous" category.
Bellevue Way and 85th are just plain nasty on a bike.

Also, Molbak's is east of the the park.

You forgot to mention that this route falls in the "dangerous" category.
Bellevue Way and 85th are just plain nasty on a bike.

Also, Molbak's is east of the the park.

Dangerous, maybe. I suppose it depends.

Oh yeah, east!

If you're starting in Mercer Island, why not just head to Wells Medina nursery in Medina? Then you could ride up to Kirkland for lunch, and decide to either head back to MI or loop around the lake back to M.I.

If you're starting in Mercer Island, why not just head to Wells Medina nursery in Medina? Then you could ride up to Kirkland for lunch, and decide to either head back to MI or loop around the lake back to M.I.

I'll be meeting a BF member who is not quite 100% back to riding and I'm not entirely certain that she would be able to ride as far as Medina. I will be leaving from work (SeaTac airport), so I know how to get to Bellevue via I-90, and I know how to get back to Kent from Bellevue, as I've ridden that many times. But I've only ridden north of Bellevue Square once, and I believe it was via Bellevue Way and 85th. I remember it as not being particularly pleasant, but that was at least a year ago, perhaps longer. So I may not be as intimidated by it now as back then...I think I will go with zippyh's directions, but I really appreciate EffSizzle pointing out the availability of rest facilities in the park, because by that point I will undoutedly NEED them :D .

I also appreciate the warning about not doing this route in the return direction. I'm not certain if I will be riding back on this particular trip (Mr. East Hill plans on meeting me in Woodinville, as we have things to do in Bothell), but it will be handy to know for future rides. I am fairly good at getting around down South, but want to expand my horizons more and get in a few really good options Eastside, especially ride variations which may go past parks, and especially parks with wetlands (I want to check out birding opportunities).

Thanks everyone!

East Hill

Have fun!!!

Have fun!!!

Always!

:D

East Hill

I am always up for a nice ride up along the North part of the Eastside. I am 13 miles north of downtown Woodinville.

I like riding up from the I-90 trail, up past the mall and the honda dealer, across I-90 using the pedestrian overpass past BCC heading towards the Mormon temple, then along that road, past THAT KFC.

straight a half mile or so further, then as you enter a suburban park just past the tunnel that leads under I-90, regaining the trail all the way to ride along to Westlake Sammamish near the traffic circle and school, then north along the West side of Lake Sammammish, to Marymoor park, then onto the Trail all the way to woodinville.

Least amount of road, and relatively light traffic except near I-90 along the feeder roads there.

Most dangerous I've got covered. Ride through Medina with an Apple jersey on. Guaranteed you're going to get jacked by a pissed off Microsofty! That's just how they roll!

Margaret,

If you take this route, you'll be coming almost right by my house. Wanna stop for a cup of coffee? :)

I assume you're coming from Seattle on the I-90 trail.

I'd basically go the I-90 trail to Factoria, then up the hill
to Bellevue Community College, north for a while on 145th PL/140th
to Main, east on Main to 164th. GO north on 164th to NE 30th and
go east to 172nd. Go north on 172nd and then left onto West
Lake Sammamish Parkway. Follow W. Lk Samm to Marymoor and get
on the Sammamish River Trail which will take you to Woodinville.



That being said, a more scenic route would be to continue on I-90 and then up around Lake Sammamish into Marymoor park to catch the Lake Sammamish Trail up.

This is similar to the "rolling hills" route that Jason (CliftonGK1) and I have done a few times. It's a little longer, and his has some hills, but only mild ones. Hell....*I* can do it, so you should breeze on it. If interested in more detailed version of route, PM me.

I like riding up from the I-90 trail, up past the mall and the honda dealer, across I-90 using the pedestrian overpass past BCC heading towards the Mormon temple, then along that road, past THAT KFC.

straight a half mile or so further, then as you enter a suburban park just past the tunnel that leads under I-90, regaining the trail all the way to ride along to Westlake Sammamish near the traffic circle and school, then north along the West side of Lake Sammammish, to Marymoor park, then onto the Trail all the way to woodinville.

Least amount of road, and relatively light traffic except near I-90 along the feeder roads there.

It's a Toyota dealer, *FYI*.

Sounds as if I have a few options--I think I'll stay out of Medina wearing an Apple jersey, though! Just because I've thrown myself out of a perfectly good airplane doesn't mean that I have suicidal thoughts. Or does it...?

KT, I think I may take you up on that offer! Although I'm not entirely certain when I'll be there...depends on how slow I am :) . I'll send you a PM later...

MillCreek, what kind of riding are we talking about? We're not talking about 228th St SW/SE or anything like that are we :eek: ? I know I'm used to hills, but there's some big 'uns over there in Bothell/Kenmore :D .

Again, thanks for all the tips. I'm going to take a look at them with a route planner to see if I've got everything straight.

East Hill

Ooh, 228th is quite the street, isn't it? I was thinking more like the Sammamish River or Centennial Trails, in which case Ms. MillCreek would be willing to accompany. She lets me do the 'suicidal hill and traffic riding' all by myself!